Lighting fixture mounting



Dec. 10, 1957 l. WOLAR LIGHTING FIXTURE MOUNTING Filed Nov. 27, 1951INVENTOR.

ATTO RN EYI United States Patent LIGHTING FIXTURE MOUNTING IsidoreWolar, Mount Vernon, N. Y. Application November 27, 1951, Serial No.258,415 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-343) The present invention relates to lightingfixture mountings and is more particularly directed toward lightingfixture mountings suitable for supporting pendent fixtures below theceiling and for covering the outlet box.

To overcome the misalignment of outlet boxes in the usual horizontalceiling it has been customary to employ swivel joints which extend belowthe canopy supporting ring. Such swivels are designed for the purpose ofcorrecting for small misplacement of the box end have limited angle ofswing. The stem hangs from the swivel and the canopy is held in place.Such structures require numerous parts and are costly. They are notsuitable for use where the ceiling is more than a few degrees out ofhorizontal. Under these conditions it has been customary to employ chaintype of suspensions or to have the outlet box project or to recess it,and arrange about the outlet box a horizontal surface against which thecanopy can be brought, thereby to some extent disfiguring the ceiling.

The present invention contemplates mountings whereby the stems can hangpendent without the use of the usual swivel joint, and wherein thecanopy is supported from the stem in either the horizontal position orin such sloping positions as occur in practice, and can be held againstthe ceiling in such position so as to cover the outlet box and wiring.

The structures in which the present invention may be embodied can beused in locations where the conventional swivel joint is used andwithout change in locations where the swivel is unsuitable; and at asubstantial saving in cost per unit.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustratiug the presentinvention, two embodiments in which the invention may take form, itbeing understood that the drawings are illustrative of the inventionrather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a fixture mounting employing asquare outlet box mounted on the diagonal on a ceiling sloping at anangle of 20;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same fixture mounting employing thesame box and turned 45 mounted on a 40 ceiling;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a fixture support from afiat ceiling and illustrating a relatively smaller outlet box; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through a modified form ofconstruction.

The largest box likely to be employed in ceiling supported fixtures ofnormal weight is the 4" square box.

Such a box is 5 A" on the diagonal and when horizontal can be covered bya 5%" or a 6" canopy. Such a box is illustrated at 10, Figures 1 and 2.In Figure 1 it is shown so mounted that the diagonal slopes at an angleof 20 below the horizontal, and in Figure 2 it is so mounted that thesides extend up and down the ceiling at an angle of 40 below thehorizontal.

In each case the outlet box 10 is shown as carrying in the centeropening of the top the usual stud 11 and nut 12. A bent sheet metal hook13 is secured on the stud. This hook is preferably short and supports abent strap 14 having a loop 15 to receive the hook and a threaded hole16, with its center below the upper end of the loop and usually pipesize. This fitting is also preferably made short. A fixture stem 17 isthreaded into the strap 14 and hangs down irrespective of the angle atwhich the box is mounted.

A canopy 18 is placed about the stem. It has a central hole 19 and islarge enough to cover the outlet box when held against the ceiling. Tohold it against the ceiling the stem 17 is provided with a member 20,typically a ball of larger diameter than the hole 19. It may be held inplace by a screw 21.

In Figure 1 the axis of the outlet box is indicated at X-X, the verticalaxis of the stem Y-Y and the canopy axis at Z-Z. In the example shown,the stem is therefore farther from the upper corner of the box than fromthe lower corner. The proportions of the drawing are those for a 4"mounting in a ceiling at 20 and the canopy to cover such an adversecondition is about 7 in diameter. Instead of mounting the stud 11centrally, it can be shifted off center by attaching the hook 13 to anoutlet box strap so that its axis is in the region X'-X and the stem isat Y'-Y. This will locate the stem and canopy higher and to the left.

Instead of mounting the box diagonally it would more likely be mountedwith the sides extending up and down in which case the upper and loweredges would be at 1010' and a 6 canopy would be ample. Thus for ceilingswith slopes of upwards of 20, the usual 6" canopy can be used with a 4"box whether square or round.

Where the ceiling slopes at much greater angles, such as the 40 ceilingof Figure 2, the displacement of the stem axis yy from the box axis x--xis such that a larger canopy is required. In the proportions shown a 7"canopy suflices for the 4 box.

Where the more common smaller box, such as the 3% round box, is used asmaller canopy may be employed. Figure 3 illustrates the proportions ofa 3%" round box 25, and a 5" canopy 26, the box being mountedhoriozntally and the stem 27 being short and supporting a chain 28.

In Figure 4 the tubing 30 is threaded into a short externally threadedtube 31 carried by the fitting 14. The ball 32 is threaded at the topand when threaded onto the tube 31 it holds the canopy 18 up as before.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other formsand constructions within the scope of the claim, I wish it to beunderstood that the particular forms shown are but several of theseforms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do nototherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

The combination with an outlet box mounted substantially flush with aceiling surface of means for mounting a pendant fixture to ceilings ofdifferent degrees of slope, said means comprising a fixture stempivotally secured to and depending from said box, a shallow dishlikecanopy including a relatively small central opening, said canopyslidably bearing against said ceiling and a spherically convex memberadjustably mounted upon said stem, said member presenting an upwardlyconvex surface bearing within and against the edge of the canopy openingwhereby the canopy is adjustable to fit ceilings of differing slopes andis pressed against the ceiling by said spherical member.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hurley Jan. 21, Orford June 25, Schmidt Dec. 8,Oehring Sept. 5, Franks Mar. 14, Mueller et al. Jan. 16, Gates June 10,Symmes Feb. 12, Balch Feb. 19, Wright June 15,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 12,

